Following Bread Crumbs! (Mark 8:1-21)
Notes
Transcript
Bridge Bible Church 12.15.2024
Bridge Bible Church 12.15.2024
Remember the story of Hansel and Gretel? Famine in the land. Parents didn’t want them so they left them in the woods. The kids knew what was going on so they left a trail of bread crumbs so that they could find their way back home. Sounds like a great idea, right?!
A team of engineerings at the University of Arizona thought so. In order to help the house hunting efforts on Mars (You didn’t know that was a huge issue, either right?!) …the team has come up with a way to equip the Mars rover with breadcrumb technology! Their thought is based on the hypothesis that "Lava tubes and caves would make perfect habitats for astronauts because you don't have to build a structure; you are shielded from harmful cosmic radiation, so all you need to do is make it pretty and cozy,"
The tech is similar to the fairy tale. As these rovers delve the depths of Mars, these robots will drop behind them communication “bread crumbs” that will help them to be able to re-trace their “steps”, not get lost, and be able to map out the lava tubes and caves of the red planet.
Interesting. So, if you find yourself looking to purchase real estate in a cozy lava tube on Mars, then you can thank this team of Arizona engineers!
Interesting idea though…. leaving breadcrumbs so that a path towards a goal can be followed.
In a similar way… ever since chapter 6 and the feeding of the 5000 we can trace bread crumbs that Jesus has been leaving for his disciples… not so that they can find their way back somewhere in case they get lost… but so that they can truly understand and navigate their path forward as they follow Christ! Yes, they have been with him all of that time… physically following him. But they are still far from the point where they are spiritually understanding and able to truly follow Christ well.
Let’s open our Bibles together to Mark 8 this morning….
If you remember from last week, Jesus has just been to Tyre (Gentile area) where he has healed the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter from demon possession. Jesus and those following him left the region of Tyre and went farther north to Sidon, then doubled back and headed south towards the Sea of Galilee. We are told that he and his disciples passed through the Decapolis…. a primarily Gentile region. This is where Jesus met a deaf man who had difficulty speaking. Of course, Jesus heals him! Next, so that the miracles he does don’t speak louder than the message he shares…Jesus tells this man and those watching not to say anything about it. Of course, they do the opposite… and tell everyone they see!
Mark then quotes this statement in 7:37.
And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Wow! Amazing things being proclaimed by a primarily Gentile audience. Can you blame them? I’m sure the stories of this Jewish miracle worker had already radiated throughout the region around the Sea of Galilee. Then, Jesus shows up in Tyre… Sidon… the Decapolis region… and does miraculous things that only God can do.
He has done all things well! He even makes the deaf hear!
Whether they know it or not… these Gentiles are proclaiming truths of the Messiah! The nations are beginning to declare the glory of God!
That brings us to our text for today.
As we look at chapter 8, we will be met with another, potentially less well known, miracle of Jesus. The feeding of the 4000. This is not DeJavu. Mark hasn’t run out of things to report… and is now hitting us with a dupe.
This is a separate event from the one we already studied back in Mark 6. There are a number of similarities… but there are also a number of differences. I’ll point out a few things as we walk through the text together.
While there are so many aspects of this passage that we could study through, I’d like you to think about why the author, would put this event here. Two of the reasons may be:
Help the disciples grow in their understanding…
Reveal publically that His mission included both Jews and Gentiles.
How does Jesus do these things through this event?
He utilizes a problem to (1) Illustrate His Identity.
He provides a solution to the problem (2) revealing His character.
He leaves behind yet another crumb of evidence to help (3) cultivate understanding in his disciples.
As we look at God’s Word today, I want to challenge you to see the main idea that Jesus is leading the disciples to understand…. that we also must understand if we are to live out the gospel in our lives.
Main Idea: Jesus’ invitation to follow Him is for all people everywhere!
In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
First, Jesus utilizes a problem to illustrate His Identity.
Illustrating Identity!
When is a problem not a problem? (1-10)
Here we are again. Jesus finds himself in a remote location, followed by a large crowd of people. We are told in verse 9, that there were about 4000 there. That is 4000 men. When we add in the women and children there could have been as many as 16,000 people! (Matthew 15:38)
Who are these people and where did they come from? Remember that Jesus has been in Tyre, Sidon, and the Decapolis region (primarily a gentile region) and is now returning to the Sea of Galilee. Those following him would have been predominantly Gentiles from the Decapolis region. Possibly the crowd who witnessed or heard about the healing of the deaf man in (7:31-37) as well as any others who they had picked up along the way.
Before we go any further I’m going to show you something that might help you see how the feeding of the 5000 (chapter 6) is different from the feeding of the 4000 event here in chapter 8).
5000 men vs. 4000 men.
5 loaves & 2 fish vs. 7 loaves and a few small fish.
1 day in a remote place vs. 3 days in the wilderness
12 small baskets vs. 7 large hampers of leftovers
12 small baskets were typical of the small lunch box sized basket that the Jews often used.
7 large hampers were a very large (laundry hamper sized) basket typically used by Gentiles.
One prayer vs. Two prayers
Mostly Jews vs. Mostly Gentiles
A big part of the truths being taught are that: who Jesus is and what he is offering are not just for the Jew… but for the Gentile as well. Both Jew and Gentile could come to Jesus… and receive what He would provide.
Compassion: Sheep without a Shepherd vs. Traveling with Jesus for 3 days.
This is worth talking through for a moment. In verse 2 we are told.
“I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.”
In both feeding miracles, Jesus expresses compassion.. but for different reasons. In chapter 6, the mainly Jewish crowd, Jesus says that he has compassion on them because they are like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus heart was broken to see the people of Israel wandering around with no true spiritual leadership. They have the truth of God’s Word… but no true shepherd to lead them in it!
Here in chapter 8, with the Gentile audience Jesus expresses a different kind of compassion. They had been traveling with him for three days. Whatever provisions they had brought with them (possibly in large hamper sized baskets) had been used up. Everything they had brought with them for the journey of following Jesus had been eaten…. all except for 7 loaves of bread and a few small fish!
The three days mentioned is to help the reader see the severity of the problem and the need for food. That is why Jesus said
Mark 8:3 (ESV)
… if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.”
Jesus didn’t want to send this crowd home hungry. We are told that they had come from “far away” (spiritually… they were Gentiles so they were “far from God” and physically… they had come from the Decapolis region and possibly as far as Tyre and Sidon).
I think this statement in verse 3 is a bit more of a foreshadowing that we might think. There is a group of Gentiles who are from “far away” who He doesn’t want to send away hungry. So He feeds them!
The promises Jesus is making… the message of truth Jesus is spreading is not only for the Jews… it is for the Gentiles as well. Jesus isn’t going to send a group of Gentiles who need to hear the truth away without being presented with an opportunity to respond to God calling people to Himself!
Peter will later proclaim a similar truth in Acts 2:39
For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Paul will pick up on this same truth later in Ephesians 2:17
And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
What is the truth that Mark is presenting here in chapter 8 that both Peter and Paul also express in Acts and Ephesians?
Jesus’ invitation to follow Him is for all people… everywhere!
While these events are different, the feeding of the 4000 has a very similar purpose to the feeding of the 5000.
For the Gentile audience, this miraculous demonstration of compassion was to help them take their next step of faith in believing in who Jesus is and in His message. He is leading them to believe in who He is… not just in what He can do! He is leaving breadcrumbs for them to follow to the truth!
Jesus is compassionate.
Jesus provides for those who follow Him!
Jesus does something that only God could do!
Jesus is someone that they should believe in… and commit to!
For the disciples, this event was to remind them of the truth filled breadcrumbs that have all ready been proclaimed in the feeding of the 5000…
Both of these events should have pointed the Jewish observers back to the time when Israel was in the wilderness and God provided them with “bread from heaven”… with Manna.
When Jesus creates bread from practically nothing…. they should have understood that Jesus… this Jesus right in front of them is the second Moses… He is the Promised One that has come who is greater than Moses… He is not only providing them with bread to keep them alive…. He is the Bread of Life!
For the disciples, Jesus is again clearly declaring his identity….
Jesus is the promised Messiah!
Jesus is the Bread of Life!
For Jews and Gentiles!!!!
Jesus’ invitation to follow Him is for all people… everywhere!
Next, while providing a solution to the problem, Jesus reveals his character.
2. Revealing Character!
When a solution is more than a quick fix! (2-9)
We have already seen a bit of Jesus’ character through the compassion He expressed for this Gentile crowd. Now we see that through this miraculous bread & fish creation…. that Jesus not only meets the need… but he meets in with abundance. (v.6)
Reflecting on this passage, what are the character qualities of Jesus we see on display?
Jesus Cares!
In verses 1-3, Jesus is compassionate for those who are in need.
Jesus Provides!
In verses 4-7, Jesus responds to a need. The disciples come to Jesus with a problem. We are almost out of food! What do we do? Jesus, you are our only hope! Great move by the disciples.
Jesus prays two times, once for the bread and then again for the fish, teaching this Gentile audience to be thankful to God for their daily provisions and to trust Him to provide for their needs.
Then Jesus provides for the problem. He creates enough food from those 7 loaves and few sardines to feed the entire crowd.
Jesus satisfies completely!
Jesus provides in abundance. Verse 8 says that everyone who ate was satisfied! Not only were they all satisfied…. they were so full that there was enough left over food to fill 7 large hamper sized to go containers! As the disciples gather the left overs from this Gentile audience… it is hard not to see a bit of foreshadowing taking place as those from every nation are gathered together in the presence of the Lord!…
Jesus not only provides quick fix to the problem of the crowd being hungry… he provides them with a meal for today as well as food to carry with them for their journey home.
Imagine the stories they would tell when they get back to the Decapolis…. spreading the word of this miracle working man of God named Jesus! He heals the sick…. makes the deaf to hear…. and has compassion on all those in need!
Jesus’ invitation to follow Him truly is for all people, everywhere!
Finally, Jesus leaves behind yet another breadcrumb of evidence to help cultivate understanding in His disciples.
3. Cultivating Understanding!
When a result leads you to more! (8-10; 14-21)
Verse 10 tells us that as soon as the miraculous feeding was finished…. all 7 of the large hampers of left over food had been collected. Jesus, similar to last time, has his disciples get into a boat and head out onto the Sea. Why?
He has another bread crumb to leave…. He has another lesson to teach that is designed to help them understand!
Once they arrive at their destination there is a confrontation with the Pharisees. Not satisfied with all the miracles Jesus had already done, they demand a sign. Jesus does not accommodate their spiritual blindness. They have seen everything… and yet they are choosing not to believe! Jesus and his disciples get back into the boat and head across the sea once again.
While in the boat verse 14 tells us that the disciples…
Mark 8:14–16 (ESV)
… had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread.
Imagine… Jesus has just feed between 4000 and 16000 people… and these twelve guys are worried about where their lunch was coming from! Jesus is warning them about how dangerous the sin of disbelief is and how quickly it can spread everywhere like an infection…. and they are concerned about how the twelve of them are going to divide one loaf of bread!
Hello!… McFly…. Jesus just broke 7 loaves to feed 4000 plus people…. I think he can handle feeding the twelve with this one loaf.
The disciples are not getting it! All the breadcrumbs that Jesus has left behind… seem to have been blown away. The disciples are not following! Like Hansel and Gretel… they seem to be spiritually lost in the woods.
So, what does Jesus do? He uses a different kind of teaching technique to help them grasp what is going on….. He bombards them with a barrage of rhetorical questions in order to cultivate conviction…. maybe a bit of shame… but primarily understanding.
Why are you talking about having no bread? (I just created more than was needed!)
Do you still not see or understand?
Are your hearts hardened? (yes)
Do you have eyes, but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? (yes)
Don’t you remember? (The details yes… the spiritual lesson, no!)
When I broke the five loaves for the 5000… how many baskets of pieces did you pick up? (12)
When I broke the seven loaves for the 4000… how many hampers full of pieces did you just pick up? (7)
With each question there should have been a heavy pounding of conviction in their hearts… and souls….
The disciples’ lack of understanding was coming from their hardness of heart. They were with Jesus.. so of course their hearts were not hardened towards Jesus… but they were hardened due to their familiarity with Jesus. They have been with Jesus all the time… exposed to all of his teaching… but they had not truly been reflecting on and acting on all that Jesus taught… which led to a dullness in their understanding. They were not internalizing and living out what they were seeing and hearing!
Friends, that can happen to us. — When we are constantly exposed to the teaching of the Word but do not take the time to reflect on what what have heard or read and we do not act upon it…. then we progressively become desensitized to the power of the Word… and its truth becomes ineffective in our lives.
If we just sit here each Sunday, listen to a good message, grab hold of a crumb of truth… and then walk away never to chew on what we have heard…. digest it… and put it into practice… then eventually we will lose whatever breadcrumb that caught our attention! We won’t progress towards the goal… the opposite will actually happen. We will not grow.. but we will shrink. It is a use it or lose it principle!
For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Just think back to what the disciples witnessed in verses 1-10 alone… if they had actually taken the time to reflect on what they saw… then their discipleship would have taken some big steps forward!
I mean… the multiplication of bread was a creation miracle! — and they have seen it done twice!
Jesus can do anything!
The 12 baskets… and 7 hampers of bread was showing anyone who would see… that Jesus is the bread for the whole world (Jews and Gentiles)!
The bread illustrated that there was no life apart from Jesus!
This event is a call for us to gorge ourselves with Scripture! Binge on God’s Word! Feast on Christ!
“There is no better defense against spiritual weakness than a strong Christian memory.” (paraphrase - Hughes)
Jesus ends his seemingly frustrated barrage of questions with what is more of a statement to convict than a question to be answered in verse 21.
Application:
And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”
This is separate from the other questions… not meant to be quickly answered… but to cultivate conviction.
This question should be taken as a point of application for everything we have studied since chapter 6… actually throughout the whole gospel of Mark so far…
“Now that I have reminded you of all that I have done (12 small baskets left over from the Jewish feeding & 7 large hampers left over from the Gentile feeding)… do you still not understand that I am the bread of life for the whole world?!?!”
This event ends in a sobering… somewhat depressing moment. Jesus tries to help the Disciples see that they are not getting it…. They are seeing… but not with eyes of faith… they are experiencing all that is happening but not understanding!
Let me encourage you for a moment by sharing with you the greater context of this event. If you keep reading… and yes, if you have questions… or don’t fully understanding something int he Bible….you should always keep reading!
As soon as Jesus presents this barrage of self-assessing rhetorical questions…. they reach Bethsaida and Jesus seems to immediately heal a blind man with two intentional touches (8:22-26). After the first touch the man says that he sees things but not clearly…. he sees people as if they were walking trees… then after the second touch… the man sees clearly.
Sounds a lot like the spiritual position the disciples are in. They have been with Jesus… they have seen all that He has done… and all about who He claims to be…. but yet they are still not seeing the picture clear…. Jesus just edified them by asking them the question… “Do you understand yet?”…. the answer back in 8:21 was no. Now the reality of the disciples spiritual understanding is being illustrated through the healing of this blind man.
What happens next in verse 29 is so encouraging! Why? Because it shows us a progression of understanding, filled with successes and failures… that finally ends with a person like Peter proclaiming the truth that is at the heart of this entire gospel! Jesus has left behind all the breadcrumbs needed in order for us to find our way to Him!
Up to this point, the disciples seem like they are just not getting it. Even though they are seeing and hearing and experiencing all the things… they are just not getting it. But then… after being pushed a bit… Peter finally proclaims (v.29)… “You are the Messiah!”
Peter finally finds his way forward! After following all the breadcrumbs Jesus has been leaving behind… Peter finally follows them to the conclusion Jesus has been proclaiming!
Jesus is the Messiah! The Son of God! The Savior of the World! … and Jesus’ invitation to follow Him is for all people… everywhere!
That is the truth that this event is confronting us with today. If all we have read in God’s Word is true… and it is…. then how are we living it out?
Are we trusting in who Jesus is? Do you believe that He is the Son of God? The Messiah?
Are we actually embracing Jesus as our source of life and provider of our needs? Jesus is the Bread of Life! Is He your bread? Is the the source of your life… strength…. Is He what sustains you and keep you going…. or are you choosing to put your trust in something else?
When we listen to or read the Word of God… are we digesting it and putting it into practice? Or will you take the breadcrumb you received today… leave here and let the wind blow it away?
Don’t waste these truths God has given you an opportunity to hear. You need them.… your neighbor needs them… your boss at work needs them… the students at Kent State need them…. the person down the hall that you really gets on your nerves needs them….
Jesus’ invitation to follow Him is for all people everywhere!
Intended Response:
Pay attention to all that Jesus has done!
Take your next steps of faith based on the truths of what God has already done in the past!
Commit to Jesus as the source of life and provider for all of your needs!
Internalize the truths of Scripture… and live them out as if the lives of those around you depended on it!
Be part of the solution…. not part of the problem!
Let’s be part of all people, everywhere following the breadcrumbs of truth left behind…. not the wind that blows them away. — Let’s be part of helping all people, everywhere hear, understand, and embrace Jesus’ invitation to follow Him!
